(Props: AXS TV Fights)
It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Quinton “Rampage” Jackson would fight new light-heavyweight hotness Glover Teixeira for his UFC farewell bout. Unfortunately, Teixeira’s medical suspension could delay the meeting even further, as the Brazilian slugger may have injured his right hand and elbow while breaking his arm off in Fabio Maldonado’s ass at UFC 153.
In this clip from Inside MMA, Bas Rutten drops the bad news on Jackson, who explains that he’d rather not wait six more months to get back in the cage…so what’s Forrest Griffin up to these days, anyway? When Bas is informed that Griffin vs. Phil Davis has already been booked, it’s tantrum time for Quinton:
“That’s gonna be a boring fight! No disrespect to anybody, but that’s gonna be a boring fight, I’m sorry…This is why I’m leaving the UFC. I don’t understand what Joe Silva’s doing. Joe Silva have a complex, something’s wrong with him. The guy can’t match *shoes*. What kind of matchmaker is this guy? What is he thinking? Give me Forrest. Everybody wants that, that would sell, everybody wants to see me and Forrest fight again. Everybody keeps talking about it.”
Really? Everybody wants to see a rematch of a fight between two ex-champs who are, sorry to say it, broken-down husks of their former selves? Judging by Forrest’s recent performances — his dull squeaker over Tito Ortiz in July, and his knockout loss to Shogun Rua last August — you’d think that Quinton wouldn’t even want to fight him anymore, since he’s only interested in exciting opponents.
Look, I understand why Rampage would like a redemptive victory in his last outing, but I think just as many fans would prefer to have him wait for Teixiera to heal up, and go toe-to-toe with a young lion in his final performance. Maybe Jackson’s odds wouldn’t be as good against Teixeira as they would be against Forrest, but at least it would be entertaining — and it wouldn’t be a re-run.
Jackson also had this to say about his last loss to Ryan Bader:
Me losing my last fight due to an injury to such a weak opponent like Ryan Bader; I’ve got excuses for every loss I have, but you could tell I was injured. But me losing to a guy like Ryan Bader has really lit a fire under my ass. Now, I’m staying in shape, I’m training all the time. I’m not fighting injured no more.
Ugh. He didn’t even have the common decency to throw in “no disrespect” before describing Bader as “such a weak opponent.” And I’d like you guys to remember that quote if Jackson loses his next fight then tries to blame an injury. In the words of our President, that’s a bullshitter.